[MOSAIC] Mosaic Digest, Vol 7, Issue 14

[Jennifer Morgan Frigon]

Bill,

How wonderful that you took that first step in asking your students  
what is important to them.  In my opinion, they gave you some  
wonderful ideas to work with!  Cellphones, myspace, and music ARE  
what's important to today's youth.  You mention them not  
"understanding" or "comprehending" but I bet that they are more so  
than you or I would.  Ever consider teaching critical literacy in the  
classroom to help guide their understanding?  This would be a neat way  
to help make them aware while engaging them in something that they  
enjoy.  Drugs may very well be a part of everyday life for these kids.  
  Talk about it!  There are some pretty powerful poems out there about  
Drugs that these kids could dive in to.  Poverty clearly DOES matter  
to them if they know enough to see that they dont want to be in it,  
our culture has promoted the get rich quick attitude.  Why dont you do  
a text set on poverty or an occupations inquiry project?  As for  
abuse, it is a part of life but it doesnt have to be.  So often  
youngsters build up an "i dont care" attitutude around things that  
they care the most about.  Perhaps a blog page would take the place of  
their myspace craze and allow for a spot to talk about these issues in  
a safe manner.

These kids THRIVE for the spoken word.  Rap music, like it or not, is  
just that.  No it may not be a poetry reading at Barnes and Noble that  
WE might enjoy but it is music that pertains directly to youth.  There  
are many many rap songs that talk about oppression and rising up.  Not  
all of them talk about drugs and sex.  Start class off one day with  
the Naz song "I know I can" and see how engaged they are then.  Use it  
to introduce one of the previously mentioned text sets.  Have the  
students do a free write of their feelings and reactions.

There IS hope for these students, Bill.

Jenn